Nurse Associate/Assistant Practitioner (AP) SMASH in Alsager

Band 4

Main area District Nursing Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent: Covering the 7 day service Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (including weekend working) Job ref 412-COMM-8276336

Site SMASH Care Community Town Alsager Salary £28,392 - £31,157 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 01/10/2026 23:59

Want to work somewhere you can really make a difference? Somewhere you’re encouraged to have ideas and empowered to create positive change?

Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) deliver NHS Community Services across Cheshire. With a wide range of clinical disciplines, we are a dynamic, future-facing organisation passionate about delivering the highest quality healthcare whilst collaborating with our community partners.

We foster a culture of continuous improvement, built on compassion.

• Over 83% of staff would recommend CCICP as a place to work
• 90% of staff say the people they work with show appreciation to each other
• 88% staff say that patient care/service users are the organisations top priority
• Over 70% of staff believe there are opportunities for them to develop their career
• If a friend or relative needed treatment 81% of staff are happy with the standard of care provided

We are recognised nationally

• With over 24 Queen’s Nurses (and growing) we have one of the highest percentages proportionate to the size of our team
• Nursing Times Award winners in 2023 and finalists in 2024 for a Bladder and Bowl project. Our specialist Stoma service is currently shortlisted for a Nursing Times and British Journal of Nursing awards.
• Two Specialist clinicians have recently had their work recognised by Wounds UK
• Leighton Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre, run by CCICP, was reviewed by Care Quality Commission and awarded the highest score in the North West

Job overview

SMASH Care Community has a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic Nurse Associate or Assistant Practitioner to join our forward thinking community care team at Alsager

The post requires effective communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to be adaptable, reliable and approachable.

In this role you will be responsible for the assessment, delivery and evaluation of nursing care (under the guidance and delegation of a case manager/District Nurse) caring for patients a wide range of complex health conditions. You will be supported to develop existing and new clinical skills which will allow you to effectively care for the patients on the care community caseload.

You will work with our patients and families to empower them which will enable them to live their optimum life, being self-caring and independent with their health needs where possible.

Work collaboratively, efficiently and creatively with multi professional colleagues and partners with a focus on helping patients to avoid hospital admissions.

You will be given an allocated mentor and be supported to complete competencies in line with your scope of practice. By the completion of regular Motiv8 (1:1) sessions you will have the opportunity to identify any further learning opportunities to support you in your career development.

Main duties of the job

The Assistant Practitioner (Nurse)/ Nurse Associate will assist in the identification of health needs and participate in the delivery and evaluation of care interventions developed to meet those needs under the leadership of a senior registered Nurse. Supervision may be direct/indirect depending upon competency/complexity of work.

The post holder will continue to develop and undertake a range of delegated tasks and will report to a Registered Nurse. The Assistant Practitioner (Nurse)/Nurse Associate will provide general/specific care as specified below for a client group and will be proficient and competent to work across professional disciplines, referring clients for assessmentand treatment or to other agencies as required.

Working for our organisation

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides a full range of local hospital and community services for people across East Cheshire (population 399K) and West Cheshire and Chester boroughs (population 357K).

The Trust provides high quality planned and unplanned/emergency care, cardiac and critical care as well as child health, maternity services, and intermediate care across our sites at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford. The Trust provides 500 beds and employs over 5,000 members of staff.

An extensive range of community services is provided across 26 medical centres and schools by our community arm, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, in collaboration with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance. With the formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022 the Trust became a strategic partner in both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester ‘places’ and is part of the Cheshire and Merseyside partnership caring for a population of over 2.7million.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its ‘Be Safe Be EquiPPEd’ campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE.

At Mid Cheshire, our mission is to inspire hope and provide unparalleled care for the people and communities of Cheshire, helping them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

As a qualified AP or NA (foundation degree or equivalent) you will work as part of an integrated community team.

To follow plans of care prescribed by the Registered Nurse/Practitioner to patients whose needs are best met in the community, including the patient’s own home, clinic's or other care settings, which may be unpredictable.

To work independently under the leadership of Registered Nurses/Practitioners

To work within the CCICP Care Community Teams scope of practice for Band 4 Assistant Practitioners (Nurse) /Nursing Associates

To work in partnership to reduce hospital admission and facilitate discharge.

To promote optimal levels of independence and wellbeing for patients.

Teaching and support for formal and informal carers.

To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.

SERVICE DELIVERY

To take responsibility for accepting and implementing patient care as delegated by the Registered Nurse/Practitioner, that is within the CCICP Care Community Team’s scope of Practice for Band 4 Assistant Practitioners (Nurse) /Nursing Associates and where you are signed off as competent in that task.

In collaboration with the Registered Nurse/Practitioner, deliver individual programme of care in partnership with patients, carers and other health and social care professionals in a response to planned needs.

To be responsible for patients with continence needs, assessing planning, delivering and evaluating care when delegated by Registered Nurse/Practitioners.

To communicate effectively with clients, carers and colleagues to ensure understanding of conditions and treatment.

To manage patient expectation regarding the service, how it operates and the potential for patients to be transferred or discharged.

To deliver a range of clinical skills within your competence from the Care Community team scope of practice for Band 4 Assistant Practitioner (Nurse) /Nursing Associates.

Administering of medication in accordance within policies and guidelines, and the Care Community Team scope of practice for Band 4 Assistant Practitioner (Nurse)/Nursing Associates.

Identify the early signs of deterioration to ensure acute and chronic phases or changes in condition are responded to appropriately - this may include referral to an alternative care pathway or service. Ensure discharge dates are met wherever possible.

To manage the competing clinical priorities of the caseload, following escalation procedures including seeking appropriate clinical or managerial support.

Must have an understanding of the concept of risk and be aware of how risk is assessed and managed within patients’ homes and other settings and ensure any change in risk status is reported promptly according to agreed policies and protocols.

To be accountable for reporting and relaying information to the Registered Nurse, or other Health Care Professionals (HCP) concerns or changes in a patient’s condition Requirements of the post holder.

To support team members, formal and informal carers in the delivery of clinical care.

To support learning of students and other team members as required

To work in partnership to reduce hospital admission and facilitate discharge.

To promote the service countywide within the Trust and external agencies including: secondary care, social and community services, primary care, ambulance services, private and voluntary agencies, patients and public.

Must have knowledge of a broad range of resources available in the community along with an understanding of the other agencies and professionals that support patients at home to ensure that these services are accessed and utilised appropriately.

To contribute to ongoing service development.

To attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.

To participate in Care Quality Commission audits and inspections.
To participate in relevant local clinical audit and research to inform service
delivery and development.

To actively participate in a clinical supervision programme that supports reflective practice.

Be open and honest, act with integrity and uphold the reputation of your role and Mid Cheshire Hospital Foundation Trust.

To maintain professional relationships for those in your care.

To present a personal professional image at all times.

To have the knowledge and skills for safe and effective practice without direct supervision and work within the limits of your competence.

To keep your knowledge and skills up to date and participate in educational activities that maintains and develops your performance.

Be accountable for the prioritisation of own workload and seek support where necessary.

Maintain clear concise and legible documentation adhering to prescribed standards and protocols.

GOVERNANCE

Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management team if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerned about any aspect of patient care.

Maintain the work environment in line with Infection Control Policies.

To report and record any concerns regarding patient care.

Identify risk issues which could affect patient care.

Undertake risk assessments where appropriate.

To participate in patient and public involvement activities appropriate to role.

Support and promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.

To participate in audit, benchmarking and other initiatives as required.

Conform to safe and lone working practices and policies.

MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP

Ensure a healthy, safe and secure working environment, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, maintaining accurate documentation and reporting concerns.

To maintain health, safety and security and report any concern.

To maintain patient confidentiality at all times.

To contribute to effective communications with patients, relatives and members of the MDT team.

To acknowledge own limitations and to work with the confines of the remit of the assistant practitioner and the knowledge and skills framework.

To supervise others relevant to grade and participate in their education and development.

To ensure effective and efficient use of physical resources.

To contribute to the development of services.

EDUCATION/LEARNING

Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including full participation in Motiv8/appraisal, supervision, action learning and by maintaining a professional/personal portfolio of learning.

To develop and maintain own clinical skills and knowledge using a competency framework to ensure effective care delivery.

To ensure compliance with mandatory training and personal development plans.

To adopt a lifelong learning approach to developments and maintain a portfolio of practice and development.

To contribute to the assessment and development of others where appropriate.

Participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff, students and cadets to the team.

To assist in and promote evidence based care.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Previous experience of clinical supervision and reflective practice

Experience

• experience in health care
• experience in more than one area in health care
• Wound Care Management
• Experience in Community Setting

skills

• basic IT skills
• Ability to perform area specific core clinical competencies
• Ability to solve problems & make decisions under pressure.

We offer enviable benefits* which include:

• Recognition: monthly ‘Because You Matter’ awards, with an annual awards celebration. CCICP Star of the Month acknowledgements
• Flexible working, tailored to the service, role and individual
• Training and development opportunities
• Mentoring and coaching
• Generous holiday allowance of 28 days plus bank holidays. Increasing with length of service. Option to buy / sell annual leave.
• Fast track physiotherapy access
• Enhanced maternity / paternity / adoption leave pay
• Sick pay
• Access to free counselling service 24/7
• Carers leave
• Free Flu and Covid Vaccinations
• Discounted complimentary therapies
• Access to hundreds of staff discounts nationally and locally
• Cycle to work scheme
• Long service awards for all NHS service

KEY MESSAGES

• Please let us know if you require an adjustment to our recruitment process.
• All correspondence will be sent via the email address you have registered as your TRAC account.
• Selection is based on the Trust's values, and the criteria outlined in the Job Description for the role.
• Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their employees have a “right to work” in the UK. Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hold a Sponsor Licence, which means that we MAY be able to sponsor you IF the role meets the UK Government requirements for sponsorship. Not all NHS roles are eligible for sponsorship. To be eligible for sponsorship, the role must be in an eligible occupation code and must meet the skill level and the minimum salary threshold (usually £38,700 per year for Skilled Worker or £23,200 for Health Care Worker Visa). You can find more information on the Government website .
• Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the entry point (bottom) of the pay band.
• Appointments are subject to a 6-month probationary period. LED Doctors are subject to a 3-month probationary period.
• Please provide a contact email address for referees when you submit your application. We will not request any references until after you have been made a formal job offer.
• You will be required to pay for your DBS disclosure (where the post requires one). This will be done via 3 monthly instalments from your pay. We encourage applicants to join and remain registered with the DBS update service.
• We do not reimburse travel to interview expenses.
• Secondments will be considered for fixed term positions when both parties agree. Candidates should seek approval from their current line manager before application

Key Messages

We are a forces-friendly employers.

Candidates should ensure that all submissions and interactions reflect the candidate’s own skills, experience, and understanding. Any use of AI that compromises the integrity, fairness, or authenticity of the recruitment process may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of offer, or dismissal if this these circumstances come to light post hire.

Candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK are strongly advised to check the Government website for up-to-date information about whether the role they are applying for (incl. offered salary) is eligible.

Please let us know if you require an adjustment to our recruitment process and we’ll be happy to discuss this with you.

We actively promote flexible working so please discuss any requirements you may have with us.

Secondments will be considered for fixed term positions when both parties agree. Candidates should seek approval from their current line manager before application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Rebecca Huskisson Job title District Nurse Team Leader Email address Rebecca.huskisson@mcht.nhs.uk Telephone number 01270278440

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Leighton Hospital
Middlewich Road
Crewe
Cheshire
CW1 4QJ
Telephone jennifer.burkquest@mcht.nhs.uk